In this level relation between image and
viewer is analyzed. Here I touch only one aspect -- slip of glance of viewer
inspecting picture.
..
Though exceptional position of sky area
(sky is in the narrow zone left by compositional scheme's "L" till squeezed
by the right rotunda) first of all glance
of viewer touches the pillar on background of sky, after suddenly it jumps
to figure of the centurion. For longer time
viewer's glance stops over at centurion's
head and at hand with knife (through localization of the figure in the
center of picture, red large dabs, concentration of crowd's gazes on lifted
knife). After along red cloaks line the glance slips down to Virginia's
body, jumps symmetrically with respect to central vertical to the assistant's
figure, along his hands comes back to Virginia and rises along her and
the weepier woman up to Appius and along smoke
throws itself to the pillar. The centurion
is in the present. Before he speared Virginia, before that had to
come the assistant and he is seen too late, still earlier Appius
gave his assistant a task. He is seen sitting at law court. In the end
sacrificed girl's soul turned into bird's shape shall fly off towards heavens.
For this flight the author did the corridor. Hereby direction of slip of
glance of viewer inspecting Virginius Killing
His Daughter Virginia is opposite to direction of time moving in the
picture. That shows that "reading" of the picture is burdened and needs
intellect's help.
..
Generalization of
Analysis of picture Virginius Killing His Daughter Virginia.
..
It is established that distribution of
beams of picture Virginius Killing His Daughter
Virginia is based on proportional relations of whole numbers. More
regularity of the left star's side shows existence elements of disharmony
and tragedy. Picture's structural grids constructed by lines of
grid of directional star are coordinated what shows forms' coherence and
tendentious to harmony. Rhythmical motif of beams of color star transforms
into rhythmical motif of directional star. Color system does not perfect
correspond to demands of rhythmical motif of directional star. Rhythmical
motifs of evolutes of values and intensities have similarity to rhythmical
motif of evolute of structural grid. Not completion
of the picture reflects itself in not regularity of schemes of proportions
of color dab areas when completed Smuglevicius's pictures have regular
schemes. Through not completion the picture is eclectic with respect to
line and pictorality. Variety of line sizes, forms, also change of line
thickness are characteristic. Through rising up lines mood of the picture
is optimistic. Complicated balance is characteristic. All three kinds of
symmetry are intertwined. Picture's composition is closed from outward
aspect and it is open from inside aspect. Both transversal and longitudinal
lines' are used for drawing. Textures are not used. The picture has tendency
to harmony, but some signs of disharmony are noticed: not regularity of
the right side, inadequacy between rhythmical motif in directional star
and in other classemes, existence of terror elements. Figures of the picture
are arranged according the method of diagonals and perpendiculars. Still
one important area was established -- the lower part of triangle consisted
from perpendiculars to picture's diagonals -- guardianship zone.
..
Picture Virginius
Killing His Daughter Virginia can be ascribed to classicism art style.
Historic plot treated strictly according to classicism norms: proportions
are arranged; directional star's beams distributed on basis of whole numbers;
in figures' arrangement symmetry predominates; grouping is rational, invented,
typical for classicism; textures are not used; drawing and chiaroscuro
prevail over color; colors pure and local; the composition is architectonic;
main figure placed in the center of picture, it is stressed by clothes
of rich color; clear perspective of three plans; everything is necessary;
allegoric treatment of figures; similarity to antique bas-relief; harmony.
Such features of classicism were named by V.Branski (Branski B.P.,
Art
and Philosophy. Role of Philosophy in Perception of Artwork in Examples
of Art History, 1999, p. 338-348) and they are found in P.Smuglevicius's
picture. On the other hand, demand of order and quietness is disturbed
by swift motions of some figures, by gestures of disturbed crowd, by blowing
to the right smoke which bears glance to the distance, by national types
of personages, by depicting of terror scene. Hereby Virginius
Killing His Daughter Virginia draws closer to works of masters of baroque
and realism. Direction of slip of glance of viewer
is opposite to direction of time moving in the picture why "reading" is
burdened and needs intellect's help
..
Relation Between
Vladas Drema's Research of Art Works of P.Smuglevicius and This My Analysis
..
Art critic Vladas Drëma wrote monograph
of P.Smuglevicius (DremaV., Pranciskus Smuglevicius, Vilnius,
1973)
which I can compare with my research.
..
We both V.Drema and I used different research
methodic. If Drema takes the way of historic research, starting for far,
from outward, elucidating situation in that pictures were created, I am
going from opening of separate inside regularities and seeking for relations
among these regularities. That is why my standpoint bring together with
standpoint of semiotics -- limit oneself only with researched discurs abstracting
from all outward. Hereby two methodic come into collision -- historical
and immanent research.
..
Drema draws his conclusions mainly refuting
or approving references of other art critics or basing himself on his own
subjective observations. That is why his conclusions are general and without
depth causality ground. I got conclusions in the way of experiments using
all objective discovered by my criterions of estimation like directional
star, proportional grids and their coordination, general rhythmical
motif, schemes of color dabs areas, method of diagonals and perpendiculars,
method of connection time and space, etc. For my propositions I try to
find strict logical ground of quantitative regularities. I try not to keep
a place for superficial conclusions what for Drema without such instruments
it is impossible. For example, I ground existence of element of disharmony
in Virginius Killing His Daughter Virginia
in such way: Existence of almost coordinated structural proportional
grids, constructed by lines of involute of directional star, shows that
the picture has tendency to harmony, but it has signs of
disharmony through these properties: stronger regularity
of the left side of directional star than of the right one; not perfect
corresponding of color system to demands of rhythmical motif of
directional star; not regularity of schemes of proportions of color dabs
areas what is through not completion of the picture;
depiction
of terror action. Drema
is content with most general utterances like this: The painter was engaged
with content of picture, its ideological charge, but not aesthetic form
(Drema
V., Pranciskus Smuglevicius, Vilnius,
1973,
p. 239). Drema sees Smuglevicius's little "interest" in
aesthetic form in authors deviation from ideal of classicism
to realist side. It needs to contradict that manifestation of realism are
noticed in national Lithuanian types of personages and it defines only
details, but not the whole. Rational arranging of the whole (directional
star's beams distributed on basis of whole numbers, in figures' arranging
symmetry predominates, rational grouping and so one) show that Smuglevicius
is not realist, but typical classicist especially interested in aesthetic
form who put Lithuanian types figures for decrease boredom of classicism.
Thus Drema a bit overestimates importance of realism in Smuglevicius creative
work.
..
V.Drema superficially great enough educational
function ascribes to artworks of Smuglevicius (Drema
V., Pranciskus Smuglevicius, Vilnius,
1973,
p. 241). However, as my foregoing semantic analysis shows in cruel light
of classicism
Smuglevicius coldly justifies crimes
and about any education in the picture we can not even speak. Thus in many
respects analysis by my is deeper than analysis in Drema's book Pranciskus
Smuglevicius.
